Biker lexicon: Do you know these 12 terms from MTB lingo?

Just like hunters, soldiers or young people, bikers also speak their own language. So-called slang arises naturally within language communities, often spontaneously and creatively.

Slang often serves as an identifying marker for certain groups (young people, subcultures, professional groups, social classes). It creates a sense of identity and belonging.

12 words by bikers, for bikers

We've picked out 12 MTB slang words for you and revealed what they mean if you don't already know them. Check yourself, how many slang words did you know?

Into blind

"Into blind" can be jumps or drops, for example. This is when no landing can be seen on the jump. Jumps "into blind" shake your nerves and require a lot of courage.

Overpacing

Pacing means speed or gait in German. Overpacing - or overpacing in German - therefore means travelling too fast. Some bikers often tend to "overpace" on the trail. The result: loss of control or worse.

Step-up

The "step-up" is a popular bike park stunt. It is virtually safe to jump, but still offers a thrill. You jump onto a raised landing. If you flop in the air, the fall height is low.

OTB

OTB is the terror of every biker. Why? Check out the picture below! OTB means: Over the Bar. In German: take-off over the handlebars. Now click off quickly, Stefan!

Skinny

Skinny translates as thin, tight-fitting. Among bikers, this refers to narrow wooden ladders, often only the width of a hand, on which you balance.

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Car park freerider

Instead of being on the trails, car park freeriders usually spend their time in their cars. They can often be found in a camping chair with an energy drink in their hand. They prefer to talk shop with like-minded people or tinker with their bikes.

Racing style

As we all know, every second counts in racing; style and airtime are secondary. Racers swallow and push off edges and have no time for gimmicks. That's why a popular excuse among freeriders when they have taken a jump flat and unstylishly is: "I took it racing-style this time." Yes, exactly!

Torpedo run

Time is pressing, the lift is running, your friends are rushing - but you forgot to go to the toilet before the bike park run? Then you're in for a "torpedo run".

Bike voyeur

Bike voyeurs can be found almost everywhere. In their sights: new, exotic or unusual bikes. The bike voyeur doesn't look you in the eye, but rather furtively at your bike - provided you have one that fits his or her fancy.

Air awareness

The US word mix of air and awareness describes the ability to orientate oneself in the air. Slopestylers in particular need air awareness (photo). But we hobby bikers also benefit from it - for example, when something unexpected happens during a jump and we have to react quickly and correctly in the air.

Tyre burp

The strange noise occurs with tubeless tyres when air suddenly escapes. If the tyre is briefly levered out of the rim bed when landing or cornering at speed, it emits a deep burp - and usually loses so much pressure that you have to pump it up. Bitter!

Saddle fart

The saddle fart is usually heard on higher drops. Saddle farts occur when the rear wheel deflects so much that the rear tyre scrapes against the edge of the saddle, producing a fart-like sound. It's just as embarrassing as a real fart - because it shows that you don't have your bike set-up under control.

Loam Ranger

Loam refers to loose, deep forest soil. Tipping the bike from one bend to the next almost feels like riding in deep snow. The crux: if the trail is ridden frequently, the loam disappears - leaving ruts and gullies. Loam rangers are therefore constantly on the lookout for new, fresh "loamers".

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